Unions Vow To Keep Pressure On Labor Nominee

From the Morning Memo:

Unions on Thursday vowed to keep the pressure on President Donald Trump’s second nominee to fill the top post at the Department of Labor after his first nominee for secretary withdrew from consideration.

Organized labor groups and Democrats had kept up a campaign of sustained pressure against fast food CEO Andrew Puzder’s nomination to lead the department, pointing to his support for automation and opposition to minimum wage laws.

Puzder’s nomination was further put into doubt following allegations of abuse made by his wife, since recanted, as well his employing of an undocumented immigrant.

Trump on Thursday nominated Alexander Acosta, a former member of the National Labor Relations Board in President George W. Bush’s administration.

Acosta’s nomination is generally seen as more placeable to Democrats than Puzder, but unions will continue to scrutinize his record as well.

“We look forward to giving Alexander Acosta the level of scrutiny that any nominee to the DOL deserves,” said 32BJ President Hector Figueroa. “As a union that actively opposed the nomination of Andrew Puzder, a candidate clearly unfit to serve as the head of the Department of Labor, we will continue to ask questions about Acosta’s record and his commitment to protecting workers’ rights, and urge the US Senate to do the same.”

After years of setbacks and declining membership nationally, labor groups were seen as being on the offensive in the last year with successful efforts in some states to increase the minimum wage to $15 — a major union-led effort that initially began by focusing on fast food restaurants.

“We look forward to learning more about Mr. Acosta’s record as the confirmation process unfolds. If confirmed, we will hold Mr. Acosta accountable as labor secretary and do whatever it takes to make sure that our voices are heard loud and clear in Washington,” said Aiesha Meadows McLaurin, a Burger King worker, in a statement released by the Fight For $15 group. “No matter who becomes labor secretary, we won’t back down for one second in our fight. We’ll keep taking to the streets, standing up and speaking out until we win $15 and a union rights for all.”